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With online surveys, in-product analytics, and passive data everywhere, it’s fair to ask why Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) still exists.
The answer is simple: voice still delivers depth and control that other methods can’t.
In 2026, CATI remains critical for:
What has changed is how CATI is executed. AI has fundamentally altered the cost, speed, and scalability of phone-based research. Traditional CATI platforms still matter, but they now compete with AI-moderated voice systems that remove many historical bottlenecks.
CATI hasn’t disappeared—but many teams are quietly replacing it with AI-moderated voice tools for speed, cost, and scale.
CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) software enables structured phone interviews while ensuring consistency and data quality. At its core, CATI software helps researchers:
Historically, CATI required live interviewers, call centers, and scheduling overhead. In 2026, that model is being augmented and, in some cases, replaced by AI.
AI has introduced a new hybrid category: AI-moderated voice interviewing.
Instead of relying on human interviewers for every call, AI can now:
This doesn’t eliminate traditional CATI. It changes when and why teams use it.
Researcher POV:
When we needed voice insights fast during a prototype test, Usercall let us collect 40 interviews across 3 countries in one day—no scheduling, just instant AI conversations with rich qualitative output. That would’ve taken us 2–3 weeks via traditional CATI.
IdSurvey remains one of the most robust CATI systems for enterprise-grade teams. It offers flexibility for multi-channel projects, making it a great choice if you're managing dozens of interviewers and multiple languages.
Voxco excels when you need tight control over sampling and compliance, and still want to run multi-mode projects in a single ecosystem.
Nebu shines in managing interviewer performance and survey logic complexity. The tool feels tailored to high-volume, insights-focused teams that want granular control.
SurveySystem has been around for decades—and while it may not be flashy, it gets the job done. If you need a solid CATI system without a huge learning curve, this is a practical option.
CATI hasn’t disappeared. It’s splitting into two paths:
Traditional CATI still fits when
AI-moderated CATI-style voice fits when
Most advanced teams now blend both.
CATI in 2026 isn’t about phone calls versus surveys. It’s about voice as a research medium.
Traditional CATI platforms remain essential for certain use cases. But AI-first tools like UserCall are redefining what’s possible, removing the slowest and most expensive parts of phone research while preserving depth.
The smartest research teams aren’t asking, “Should we still do CATI?”
They’re asking, “Where does voice give us the most leverage?”
What is CATI software?
CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) software helps researchers run structured phone interviews with scripts, skip logic, quota controls, callbacks, QA monitoring, and clean exports.
Is CATI still used in 2026?
Yes. CATI is still widely used for regulated industries (healthcare, government), political polling, and hard-to-reach audiences where live human interviewing and strict protocols matter.
What’s the difference between CATI and AI-moderated voice interviews?
Traditional CATI uses live interviewers following a scripted guide. AI-moderated voice tools conduct phone-style interviews asynchronously, ask adaptive follow-ups, and automatically generate transcripts, themes, and summaries. CATI optimizes for control and compliance; AI voice optimizes for speed and scale.
Can AI replace CATI?
Sometimes. AI voice can replace CATI for exploratory research, concept tests, rapid feedback loops, and multi-market discovery when speed and volume matter more than live interviewer control. For sensitive topics, strict compliance needs, or studies requiring interviewer judgment, traditional CATI is often still the better fit.
When should I choose CATI instead of AI voice?
Choose CATI when you need: live human moderation, high compliance/QA oversight, complex quota management with live dialing, sensitive conversations, or an established methodology that stakeholders must audit.
When should I choose AI voice instead of CATI?
Choose AI voice when you need: fast turnaround, multi-market scale, fewer scheduling and staffing bottlenecks, consistent moderation, automatic transcription, and instant synthesis (themes/quotes) from many interviews.
Does CATI software include transcription and qualitative analysis?
Most traditional CATI platforms focus on data capture and fieldwork management. Transcription and qualitative analysis are often separate steps or add-ons. AI voice platforms typically bundle transcription and automated thematic analysis.
What’s the real cost of CATI vs AI voice in 2026?
CATI costs include interviewer hours, call center operations, sample/panel costs, scheduling, QA, transcription, and analysis time. AI voice reduces interviewer and scheduling costs and typically includes transcription and first-pass analysis, which can lower total cost per completed interview for many studies.
What are the best CATI software tools in 2026?
It depends on your workflow. Traditional CATI platforms are best for compliance-heavy phone programs, while AI voice tools are best for fast, scalable qualitative interviewing. Many teams use a hybrid approach.
